I'm going to commit sacrilege here and say Floyd. Their 1969 Royal Albert Hall show practically invented the eclectic set designs bands would later copy, not to mention their use of a gorilla firing a cannon and a massive pink smoke bomb to herald the entry of pyrotechnics into the concert arena.

Granted, the band's later live work (Gilmour-only period, think P*U*L*S*E) was lacking in engaging set design and special effects, but their pioneering 1970s act really laid the foundation that other bands (Queen among them) would build upon.

I'm going to commit sacrilege here and say Floyd. Their 1969 Royal Albert Hall show practically invented the eclectic set designs bands would later copy, not to mention their use of a gorilla firing a cannon and a massive pink smoke bomb to herald the entry of pyrotechnics into the concert arena.

Granted, the band's later live work (Gilmour-only period, think P*U*L*S*E) was lacking in engaging set design and special effects, but their pioneering 1970s act really laid the foundation that other bands (Queen among them) would build upon.

Have to agree with you. The Floyd were always great in terms of live shows. I read that they even performed the whole Piper At The Gates Of Dawn album in 1967 (with Syd). That must have been a blast!

That poll sucks because The Who are not listed. I guess Queen are the best band live...but I've never seen them in person, mind you. After that, I'd say the Who, followed by Led Zeppelin and then Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

"only way to really know what the hell we are doing on this earth is through sacred plants and mushrooms." - Treasure Moment

Thunderbolt is correct here, with Pink Floyd laying down the foundation for magnificent live acts, but I sincerely believe that Queen used that foundation and took it farther, so I will say, I truly believe it was Queen.

As Roger Taylor put it a few years ago; "Where the fuck were the Who?" They would definitely get my vote, for a good chunk of the stuff I've heard from 69-75. The Who gain favour with me for the same reason that Queen do - there's 4 guys, one of whom is just a singer most of the time, but they deliver a very broad sound, simply because they know their instruments and play them like mother-fuckers. The Who win for me though because (in their most active moments, at least) they were crazier. Brian, I love you, but I've never seen you headbutt a Gibson and then throw it at a cymbal.

I guess any tool in the 8-12 age bracket would probably have a problem with anybody choosing The Who over Queen, but fuck 'em. Just because I perceive them to have an edge doesn't mean I'm not in awe of at least ten other bands' live acts. Although I am sick of people trying to turn me onto Muse. Yawn.